XN000022-1978-04-20 — Page 5

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1978

NEW POWERS FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY

TO SELL AND MANAGE HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS ******

A BILL TO GIVE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY POWER TO SELL AND MANAGE HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS, CALLED THE HOUSING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978, WAS GAZETTED TODAY.

THE PROPOSALS, WHICH SEEK TO AMEND THE HOUSING ORDINANCE, WERE FRAMED BY A WORKING GROUP SPECIALLY SET UP UNDER THE

CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING TO CONSIDER THE STATUTORY POWERS REQUIRED BY THE AUTHORITY TO EFFECTIVELY DISCHARGE ITS FUNCTIONS UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME.

UNDER THE BILL, THE AUTHORITY WOULD HAVE THE POWER TO DETERMINE THE PRICE OF HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS, AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PAYMENT, AND TO DETERMINE THE TERMS, COVENANTS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE AND THE ELIGIBILITY OF BUYERS.

A NEW SECTION OF THE BILL RESTRICTS HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLAT BUYERS FROM SELLING TO THIRD PARTIES WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS WITHOUT FIRST OFFERING THE FLAT TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AT THE ORIGINAL SALE PRICE LESS ANY DUES.

NEW SUB-SECTIONS OF THE BILL PROVIDE THAT THE BUILDING ORDINANCE DOES NOT APPLY TO H.O.S. BUILDINGS UNTIL AFTER THE FLATS ARE SOLD AND IF AN OWNER, INCLUDING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WISHED TO CARRY OUT ALTERATIONS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING, HE WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR ANY PERSONS OR FAMILIES TO TRY TO OBTAIN A H.O.S. FLAT BY GIVING FALSE INFORMATION. THE MAXIMUM PENALTY WOULD BE RELATED TO THE MAXIMUM FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE THUS TO BE GAINED, ESTIMATED AT $50,000 AT TODAY'S VALUES.

THE BILL WILL BE TABLED SHORTLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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